mcintyre



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. o. MQINTYRE.

GAN WIPING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 26, 1895.

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{No-Model.) 2,sheetssheen,2. J. C. MGINTYRE. GAN WIPINGr` MACHINE.

No. 550,379'. .Patented'Nov 26, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN C. MCINTYRE, OF FARNHAM, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRAGUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-WIPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,379, dated November 26, 1895.

Application filed July 31, 1895. Serial No. 557,683. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MCINTYRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farnham, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Wipin g Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates principally to machines for wiping the tops of filled cans pre- 1o paratory to attaching the caps thereto.

The main obj ect of my invention is to produce a simple and eflicientmechanism whereby the cans are propelled through the machine with a rotary movement.

lOther objects of my invention are to improve the details ofthe machine.

In the accompanying drawings,consistin g of two sheets, Figure lis a rear elevation of my improved can-wiping machine. Fig. 2 is an 2o end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section in line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof in line 4 4., Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale in line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is afragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged, scale of the conveyer operating upon a can. Fig. 7

is afragmentary vertical section in line 7 7,

Fig. 6. l

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The main frame of the machine is constructed in any suitable manner, and vmay consist, for instance, as shown, of two end frames A A', connected by longitudinal bars 3 5 a and provided at their upper ends-with front and rear supporting heads or standards B B', respectively.

C represents a feed-trough, from which the filled cans are delivered to the carryingmech-l anism. This trough is arranged transversely at the front end of the machine and connected with the adjacent end frame. The cans are carried along the trough by means of a chain belt c, which is arranged with its carrying portion in a longitudinal groove formed in the top of the trough and passes, with -its receiving and delivery portions, respectively, around sprocket-wheels o o2, journaled yon the under side of the feed-trough. The rear 5o portion of the feed-trough is preferably somewhat lower than the front portion, and .the cans are placed in a tilted position with their central portions resting on the feed-belt and with one side of the bottom resting on the depressed portion vof the feed-trough, thereby enabling the cans to be carried over the trough with the least resistance. The rear side of the trough is provided with a guiderail c3,-which is connected with the trough by posts c4, and against whichthe rear sides of 6o the cans rest in passing along the trough in an inclined position.

D represents a number of longitudinalsupporting-rollers, which receive the cans from the feed-trough and on which the cans rest 6 5 with their bottoms during the operation of brushing the tops thereof. These rollers are arranged parallel, side by side, so as to form a suitable support for the cans, and are journaled with their front and rear ends in bear- 7o ings vformed in the front and rear heads B B.

`E represents a conveyer, which is arranged lengthwise above this can-support and onthe rear side thereof, and whereby the cans are carried lengthwise over the support and past the wiping device F, which is arranged at a suitable height above this support. This canconveyer consists, preferably, of ashafte and a skeleton screw e', arranged around the conveyer-shaft and connected therewith at in- 8o tervals by radial supporting-arms e2. It is obvious, however, that this screw conveyer may be constructed in various ways.

The supporting-rollers are rotated by suitable mechanism to move rearwardly with their upper portions, whereby the cans resting upon the same are caused to hug the screw conveyer and are retained in the spaces between the convolutions of the screw while being propelled forward by the same.

ably from a counter-shaftf, by gear-pinionsf, secured to the supporting-rollers in front of the front head, idler gear-pinions f 2, j ournaled on the front head and meshing with the ade 9 5. jacent roller gear-pinion sf', and an idler gearpinion f3, mounted onthe counter-shaft and meshing with the gear-pinion of the foremost supporting-roller. 1

The feed-belt of the feed-trough is driven Ioo Motion is 9o transmitted to the supporting-rollers, prefer- Y by a gear-wheel f 4, securedto the shaft of the delivery sprocket-wheel c2 of said belt and meshing with the idler gear-pinion f3. M0- tion is transmitted from the conveyer-shaft to the counter-shaft by a chain belt f5, pass ing around sprocket-wheels]6 fl, secured, respectively, to the conveyer-shaft and the counter-shaft j'. Upon turning the conveyer in the proper direction the cans are carried lengthwise over the supporting-rollers from the front to the rear ends thereof, and while the cans are being thus carried they are firmly held in engagement with the conveyer by the constant rearward movement of the upper portions of the supporting-rollers. When the can has entered into one of the spa-ces which the convolutions of the conveyer-screw present on the front side of the conveyer, the can bears against the screw attwo points g and g', as represented in Figs. 6 and 7, the point g being located on the advancing side of the can and the point g in rear thereof. On the advancing side of the can the latter bears against the lower portion of the conveyer-screw, which moves toward the rear side of the machine, and at the other contactpoint the can bears against the upper portion of the screw, which moves toward the front side of the machine. At both contact-points the movement of the screw is therefore such as to turn the can about its axis backwardly on its rear side, which is in contact with the screw, and forwardly on its front side. The direction of movement of these parts is in dicated by the arrows in Figs. G and 7 The rotary movement which is imparted to the can presents all portions of the tops and of the groove in the same to the brushing, wiping, or other mechanism which operates upon the can.

The conveyer is preferably driven from a l wise over the path of the cans and is mounted on a longitudinal shaft k, which is preferably 3 supported in such manner that the brush can main shaft H, journaled in the upper portion of the front standard by a chain belt 7L, passing around sprocket-wheels h h2, secured, respectively, to the main shaft and the conveyer-shaft, as shown in Fig.` l.

I represents a rear guide or cushion arm, whereby the speed of the cans as they are carried rearwardly by the feed belt and supportin g-rollers is cheeked, thereby preventing the cans from coming suddenly in contact with the conveyer and spilling their contents. This arm is arranged obliquely between the supporting-rollers and the conveyer in the path of the cans as they issue from the feedtrough, and is pivoted at its rear end to a supporting-rod vl on the frame, so as to swing horizontally. The cushion-arm is yieldingly held in its foremost position by a spring i', secured with its ends to a hool{vl2,'fo1med on the arm, and a collar 3, which is adjustably secured to the supporting-rod t'. The forward movement of the cushion-arm is limited by a stop 4, which is arranged on the supportingrod and against which the hook of the cushionarm is adapted to engage. The delivery portion of the feed-trough is preferably provided on its front side with a short guide-rail i5, which directs the cans against the cushion arm. The latter also serves to aid in guiding the cans into the ights of the conveyer in addition to checking the movement of the cans as they approach the conveyer.

J represents a front guide-arm, which aids in directing the cans against the conveyer as they are delivered from the feed-trough upon the supporting-rollers. This arm is arranged transversely over the front supportingu'ollers at the delivery end of the rear guide-rail in such a position that the cans upon striking the same will be deflected rearwardly toward the conveyer. This guide is attached to the upper end of a vertical shaft j, which is j ournaled in bearings on the rear post of the guiderail. The front guide-arm is yieldingly held in its normal position against a stopj, formed on the rear end of the rear guide-rail by a spring jz, secured with one end to the under side of the feed-trough and with its opposite end to an arm js, secured to the lower end of the shaft j. The guide-arm stands normally with its rear end at such a distance in front of the conveyer that when the can has been placed properly in the bight of the conveyer the can will clear the rear end of the arm; but the latter will not permit the can to pass between the salient portion of the conveyer and the rear end of the arm. Should a can become caught between the conveyer and the guide-arm, the latter yields and so allows the can to pass onward and at the same time exerts an inward pressure against the can and so directs the same into the next followi-ng ibight of the conveyer, thereby preventing g jamming or crushing of the cans and injury to the machine.

The revolving brush F is arranged lengthbe adjusted up and down and forward and rearward as may be necessary to enable the brush to operate upon cans of different sizes.

-. For instance, as shown, the shaft 7o is journaled in bearings k', which are adjustably secured in any suitable manner in inclined slots i 7a2, formed in the upper portions of the standn ards. The brush is driven by means of a chain belt k3, passing around sprocket-wheels 7047105, mounted, respectively, on the drivingshaft and the brush-shaft, sucient slack being allowed in said belt tol permit of the nece essary adjustment of the brush.

L represents a delivery-trou gh, which is arranged at the rear end of the supporting-rollers, and which receives the cans fromthe same after the tops thereof have been cleaned by the brush.

M is a guard-rail, which is arranged in front of the delivery portion of the conveyer, and which is supported on the rear standard of the frame. This guardmrail bears against the IOO front sides of the cans, which are engaged vth the delivery portion of the conveyer, and holds the same in engagement therewith,

thereby compelling the cans to move forwardand preventing the same from being forced away from the conveyer and thrown forwardly over the supporting-rollers by reason of an accumulation of cans in the deliverytrough, which interferes with the free forward movement of the cans.

N represents a hood or cover, of sheet metal or other suitable material, which covers the brush.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a supporting frame, of a screw conveyer, supporting rollers upon which the cans restand mechanism whereby said rollers are rotated to move with their upper portions toward the conveyer and hold the cans in engagement therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a supporting frame, of a screw conveyer, can supporting rollers rotating with their upper portions toward the conveyer, and a rotating brush arranged above the supporting rollers, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a supporting frame, of a rotary brush, a screw conveyer whereby the cans are carried past the brush, can supporting rollers rotating with their upper portions toward the conveyer, and a yielding guide arranged adjacent to the front portions of the supporting roller, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination with a supporting frame, of a rotary brush, a screw conveyer whereby the cans are carried past the brush, can supporting rollers rotatingwith their upper portions toward the conveyer, and a yielding guide arranged obliquely between the supporting rollers and the conveyer, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a supporting frame, of a rotary brush, a screw conveyer whereby the cans are carried past the brush, can supporting rollers rotating with their upper portions toward the conveyer, a feed trough which delivers the cans to the supporting rollers, a yielding guide arm arranged over the front portion of the supporting rollers adjacent to one side of the feed trough, and a yielding guide arm arranged between the supporting rollers and conveyer and eX- tending obliquely from the opposite side of the feed trough to the rear portions of the supporting rollers, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 29th day of July, 1895.

JOHN C. MCINTYRE.

Witnesses:

W. F. AVERY, GEO. P. CLEEs. 

